Puerto Rican Society Newspaper Articles

Puerto Rican Society Newspaper Articles

Puerto Ricans—United States
Community development—Connecticut— —New Britain
Community life
Community organization
Puerto Ricans in mass media

This collection consists of a series of newspaper articles and fliers each with importance regarding the Latino community in New Britain starting in the late 80s and ending in the late 90s. A 1988 report by H. C. Chung of the University of Bridgeport shows an increased effort by New Britain to understand the growing Puerto Rican community. The growth of the Puerto Rican society in the 80s can be partially attributed to this interest in the town, which until previously had a tumultuous relationship with the Latino community of New Britain. Newspapers were an effective source of news as well as a way to poll public opinion of a group. In the late 90s there was a wave of activism fostered by the historical society in response to a report which levied much of the blame for New Britain’s shortcomings on the Puerto Ricans who lived there. This stemmed from a report conducted by Trinity College adjunct Professor William Hansen which quoted certain businesses and persons alluding to Puerto Ricans being the root of New Britain’s economic and social hardships. Hate mail was sent to the Puerto Rican Society in the wake, and the adversity proved to be a galvanizing factor for the Puerto Rican Society.

The articles primarily detail the “breaking the ground” moment (items 12b and 12c), Puerto Rican Boxer and Champion Felix “Tito” Trinidad (Items 12a and 12d), the Puerto Rican Festival (12a, 12g, and 12h) and charitable works of the society for the betterment of the community (12e). The Puerto Rican society has been a primary factor for the recognition of Puerto Ricans in New Britain, the driving force behind the Puerto Rican Festivals and Latino advocacy. The breaking the group for the construction were an important event for them, marking the beginning of an institution that would be vital to the New Britain people for decades to come. One of their more influential events is the Puerto Rican Festival. Serving as a platform not just for pride in Puerto Rican culture, music, and arts, by the late 90s they were providing the dual purpose of honoring certain Latinos and events.

Felix Trinidad is one of the more favorited Puerto Rican boxers in recent memory. Three time boxing champion and finishing his career with a 42-3 record, in 1998 at his prime the twenty three year old boxer was a force to be reckoned with in and out of the ring. While recently he has fallen on hard times, his admiration as an inspiration for the Puerto Rican people was unparalleled. In 1998 he would be a headliner for the New Britain Puerto Rican Festival. The New Britain Puerto Rican Festivals were and still are events that receive media attention statewide after over a two decades long history of educating the populous on Puerto Rican culture, pride in community, and raising awareness for a causes. During the festival Felix met with fans and encouraged people to take the path to “good citizenship”. The festivals serve as springboards of activism for Puerto Rican advocacy and recognition, as the 22nd annual festival was dedicated to the 65th army regiment the “Borinqueneers.” Having fought across three wars, the most recent being the Korean War, the unit of Puerto Ricans had honorably served the U.S. armed forces for generations. After several years of lobbying has a monument being constructed in their honor. They were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor as a result of a strong grassroots campaign.

The collection of these articles showcases the importance of the Puerto Rican Society and the Puerto Rican Festivals to the New Britain people.

Citations for Supplementary Sources and Context:

Beaucar, Kelley O. “A Tale of Two Festivals: Clash among Organizers splits Puerto Rican event”. New Britain Herald. Apr. 20^th 1998. New Britain Herald. New Britain Public Library   Local History Room Puerto Rican Collection.

Beaucar, Kelley O. “Boxing Champ to Attend Festival”. New Britain Herald. Sept. 9^th 1998. Pg. A8. New Britain Herald. New Britain Public Library Local History Room Puerto Rican    Collection.

Beaucar, Kelley O. “Controversy subsides for day”. New Britain Herald. New Britain Public Library Local History Room Puerto Rican Collection.

Beaucar, Kelley O. “Latino Leaders may sue over comments in economic report”. New Britain Herald. Sept. 4^th 1997. New Britain Herald. New Britain Public Library Local History       Room Puerto Rican Collection.

Beaucar, Kelley O. “Summer’s first Puerto Rican festival slated for Saturday”. New Britain Herald. June 23^rd 1998. New Britain Herald. New Britain Public Library Local History Room Puerto Rican Collection.

Brown, Matthew Hay. “Council Votes Funds for One Ethnic Festival”. Hartford Courant. June 25^th 1998. Pg. B3

Leukhardt, Bill. “Puerto Ricans rally for respect in New Britain”. New Britain Herald. May 18^th 1997. New Britain Herald. New Britain Public Library Local History Room Puerto Rican Collection.

Leukhardt, Bill. “Two Festival Groups Duel Over Funds”. Harford Courant. June 4^th 1998. Pg. B1.

Riordan, Penny. “Puerto Rican festival honors 6”. New Britain Herald. Aug. 29^th 2004. New Britain Herald. New Britain Public Library Local History Room Puerto Rican Collection.

Velasquez, Lisette. “Dinner, film to honor U.S. soldiers from Puerto Rico.” New Britain Herald. Nov. 22^nd 2002. Pg. A1, A8. New Britain Herald. New Britain Public Library Local       History Room Puerto Rican Collection.

Willingham, Trish. “Puerto Rican Festival Draws Crowds, Boxer”. New Britain Herald. Sept. 12^th 1998. New Britain Herald. New Britain Public Library Local History Room Puerto Rican Collection.

New Britain Herald; Puerto Rican Society of New Britain

Personal Collection of Marta N. DeJesus

The New Britain Herald; Puerto Rican Society of New Britain

Creation Dates: 8a- 1998; 8b- Mar. 27th 1969; 8c- Mar. 27th 1969; 8d-1999; 8e- Dec. 20th 2009; 8h- 1999
Accession Date: April 6th 2017

Marta N. DeJesus

Copyright to this resource is held by New Britain Herald and is provided here by CCSU for educational purposes only.

.IPG Image Files

Spanish: 8a, 8h
English: 8b, 8d, 8e, 8f, 8g

8a- Text
8b- Text/Article
8c- Photograph
8d- Photograph
8e-Text/Article
8f- Photograph
8g- Text/Article

History Harvest, April 2017, Object # 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e, 8f, 8g, and 8h (formerly objects #12a-h).

New Britain, CT; Connecticut; Puerto Rico; United States; 1969; 1960s; 1998; 1990s; 2009; early 2000s; 2017; 2010s; 20th century; 21st century.

Photographs, and Newsprint Articles